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Buchholz dazzles again as Red Sox top Twins

Righty allows one hit through four frames to cap spring slate with 0.79 ERA

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Buchholz's scoreless start 1:05

3/28/13: Clay Buchholz holds the Twins scoreless through four strong innings of work, striking out six while surrendering just one hit

By Ian Browne
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MLB.com |

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz turned in yet another dominant performance in his final Grapefruit League outing, firing four shutout innings and striking out six in a 6-1 win over the Twins on Thursday night.

Buchholz allowed one hit and one walk to finish Spring Training with a 0.79 ERA over 22 1/3 innings.

"I just want to make a smooth transition into the season and carry everything we've done to prepare for that first start and just keep doing the same thing," said Buchholz. "It's going to be the same game. Just going to be a few more people watching you do it."

Joel Hanrahan, Boston's new closer, fired a scoreless fifth inning.

Kevin Correia was sharp for the Twins in his start, giving up five hits and a run over five innings, walking one and striking out one.

"It was a good one to end on," Correia said. "It was my most efficient outing so far in the spring probably. It's nice to have that as your last one before the season starts."

Jacoby Ellsbury had two hits and a walk from the leadoff spot in his first game action since Sunday. The center fielder had been sidelined with a jammed right heel. Ellsbury helped the Red Sox manufacture a run in the first when he hit what looked to be a routine single to right and then hustled into second for a double.

David Ross drilled a two-run single in the sixth to score Shane Victorino and Jackie Bradley Jr., who had both moved up on a double steal.

The Twins scored their first run in the top of the eighth when Jonathan Goncalves hit an RBI single against Alfredo Aceves.

Up next: The final road game of Spring Training for the Red Sox will be a 10-minute bus ride to Hammond Stadium to face the Twins on Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Right-hander Ryan Dempster, who will pitch the third game of the season against the Yankees, makes the start. Junichi Tazawa and Clayton Mortensen will work out of the bullpen.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.